Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak and Acting United States Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan have talked about Polish-US relations and security matters.

“We have agreed that the work group preparing the increase in the US military presence in Poland, should up the pace,” said Mariusz Błaszczak. “I was assured that the Fort Trump is one of the priorities of our cooperation.”

Polish and US officials have talked for the first time since Mr Shanahan became the acting chief of the Pentagon. The phone call will be be followed by the meeting planned in February in Brussels during the NATO summit.

The US military base in Poland is a matter of the highest importance for the country’s government. It is supposed to be a response to the situation in the Eastern Europe and Russia’s expanding military capabilities. Fort Trump would constitute an important deterring factor.

In March the Pentagon is supposed to deliver a report to the Congress on the US military presence in Poland. So far it is a rotation of soldiers, they come to Poland just for few months long shifts. Poland would like their presence to be more permanent and for that a proper military base is needed.